Picture frame

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a frame assembly for mounting a planar member such as a picture or other article of art work. The frame assembly includes: a peripheral wall having a plurality of interconnected wall sections, connecting members for interconnecting the wall sections, and hanger members for supporting the frame assembly. Each of the wall sections may include a first channel and a second channel, the first channel being adapted to receive the connecting members and the second channel being adapted to receive the hanger members. The connecting members include a pair of angularly related leg members having a generally planar surface integral protrusion means protruding from the planar surface for frictionally engaging the sides of the channel, the protrusion means including pointed tab members extending out of the planar surface and pointing toward the juncture between the leg members for biting engagement with the sides of the channels to resist separation of the wall sections.

United States Patent Chambers Aug. 26, 1975 PICTURE FRAME [76] Inventor: Marshall R. Chambers, 927 Spring Prlmary Ejfaml'jternRobel-t Mlche" St, Apt NO' 8, Troy, Mich 49770 Asszslant bxammer\ Nenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or FzrmMcGlynn and Milton [22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1973 [211 App]. No.: 393,912

[57] ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data [63] continuatiommpan of Scr No 333244 Feb. 16 This invention relates to a frame assembly for mount- 1973 abandonc ing a planar member such as a picture or other article of art work. The frame assembly includes: a peripheral 52 C]. 40 1521; 52 75 403 295; wall having a plurality of interconnected wall sections,

243/4 9 connecting members for interconnecting the wall sec- [51] Int. Cl. G09f 1/12 tions, and hanger members for Supporting the frame 5 i l f Search 40/152 1521 155 156; assembly. Each of the wall sections may include a first 243 4 9; 52 753 403 231 295 402 channel and a second channel, the first channel being adapted to receive the connecting members and the 5 References Cited second channel being adapted to receive the hanger UNITED STATES PATENTS members. The connecting members include a pair of angularly related leg members having a generally pla- 1 nar surface integral protrusion means protruding from 3 M952 Edwards 374 X the planar surface for frictionally engaging the sides of 3:255:544 6/1966 Bomhohm u 40/156 the channel, the protrusion means including pointed 3194A 12/1966 Halip 40/152 X tab members extending out of the planar surface and 3 9 5 972 Show 40/15 x pointing toward the juncture between the leg members 3,668,799 6/1972 Sharron 40/1 52.l for biting engagement with the sides of the channels to 3 698,l l4 lO/l972 Hirsch 40/155 resist eparation of the wall sections FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 0 9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 652,237 8/1964 Belgium 403/402 PATENTED AUGZ 6 I975 SE51 1 [1F 2 PICTURE FRAME This application is a continuation-in-part of the patent application Ser. No. 333,244 filed Feb. 16, 1973 now abandoned.

This invention relates to picture frames, and more specifically, to a picture frame which may be sold in kit form and is quickly and easily assembled by the purchaser.

The best known teaching of a picture frame of the type referred to is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,280, issued to Tuchinsky.

Heretofore, picture frames of this type have not been provided with any convenient or handy device for hanging the picture frame after it has been assembled. Furthermore, relatively elaborate connecting members have been employed to connect or join the wall sections of the frame together, such as the threaded member used in the assembly taught by Tuchinsky.

In picture frame assemblies of this type, it is desirable that the elements of the frame be easily assembled yet, once assembled, the elements must be substantially permanently joined together. Since, in the larger picture frames, the weight of the picture glass and the display item exert large forces which tend to pull the picture frame elements apart, it is apparent that the connecting members which join the wall members together must provide a substantially permanent connection.

Additionally, means must be provided for holding the picture glass, display item, and other such elements in the picture frame. For this purpose, various clips or the like have been suggested, such as in the U.S. patent No. to Spertus 2,651,129. As will hereinafter be described, the instant invention provides an improved clip member or spring member for holding the elements in the picture frame.

It is therefore an object and feature of the instant invention to provide a frame assembly for mounting a planar member, including a peripheral wall comprised of a plurality of interconnected wall sections, connecting members for interconnecting the wall sections, and hanger members for supporting the frame assembly; each of the wall sections including a first channel and a second channel, the first channel being adapted to receive the connecting members and the second channel being adapted to receive the hanger members.

It is another object and feature of the instant invention to provide a frame assembly which includes connecting means disposed in the channels of the wall sections for interconnecting the wall sections, wherein the connecting means includes integral protrusion means thereon for frictionally engaging the walls of the channels.

In accordance with the foregoing object and feature of the instant invention, it is another object and feature of the instant invention to provide integral protrusion means which comprise tabs or depressed areas, singly or in combination, which are conveniently formed integrally with the connecting means for frictionally engaging the walls of the channel to hold the wall sections tightly together.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the instant invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a broken away cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a broken away cross-sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a broken away cross-sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a spring element constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment similar to FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a connecting member;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the element shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view broken away and partly in cross-section of an alternate embodiment of a hanger member;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 1l11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the hanger member shown in FIG. 10. 8

Referring to the drawings, a frame assembly for mounting a planar member, such as a picture or the like, is generally shown at 10. l

The frame assembly 10 includes a peripheral wall generally indicated at 12 which is comprised of a plurality of interconnected side wall sections 14 and end wall sections 15. In the preferred form of the invention, all of the wall sections 14 and 15 are structurally identical in cross-section, such that they may be manufactured by a relatively simple extrusion process. The wall sections are, therefore, most economically and reasonably made by aluminum or plastic extrusion or molding processes. The size of the frame assembly 10 may be varied by changing the lengths of the wall sections 14 and 15. To provide a finished and attractive appearance, the mating edges of the side wall sections 14 and end wall sections 15 are mitered such as at 16, thereby forming angles between the wall sections.

Each of the wall sections 14 and 15 includes a first longitudinal channel 18 and a second longitudinal channel 20 formed therein. The longitudinal channels 18 and 20 have inwardly extending flanges 22 along each of their lateral edges which partially enclose the channels 18 and 20. The frame assembly 10 also includes an inwardly extending flange 24 which is adapted to engage the planar members held within the frame assembly 10.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the planar members held within the frame assembly 10 may comprise those elements which are normally held in a picture frame, to wit, a piece of glass 26, a picture or painting 28, and a sheet of backing material 30. The picture frame assembly 10 may also include a decorative-like extension or rim such as at 32 which extends outwardly to provide a trim or border around the flange 24.

The frame assembly 10 includes connecting members 34 for connecting the side wall sections 14 to the end wall sections 15. Each of the connecting members34 includes a first leg member 36 and a second leg member 38,which leg members extend into the first channel 18 of two adjacent wall sections'The leg members 36 and 38 include integral protrusion means disposed thereon for frictionally engaging the walls of the first channel 18. The protrusion means in one embodiment of the frame assembly IO includes depressions 40 which are stamped in the leg members 36 and 38 such that they protrude from the surface of the leg members 36 and 38 to frictionally engage the walls of the chan-. nel. It is noted that the depressions 40 are integral with the connecting member 34 and are easily and economically formed therein by a simple stamping operation.

An alternate embodiment of the connecting member 34 is shown in FIGS. 7 through 9. The connecting member 34' includes generally triangular-shaped tabs 42 which are cut from the lateral edges of the leg members 36' and 38' and are bent outwardly such that they protrude outwardly from the plane of the leg members 36' and 38. Additionally, depressed areas 44 are provided which extend inwardly from the plane of the leg members 36' and 38'. When assembled, the tabs 42 force the depressed areas 44 into frictional engagement with the flanges 22 of the first channel 18 in which they are disposed. Moreover, the pointed ends of the tabs 42 tend to dig into the adjacent surface of the channel, thereby further anchoring the connecting member 46 to the wall sections. As in the case of the first embodiment of the connecting member 34, the protrusion means, comprising the tabs 42 and depressed areas 44, are easily provided in the leg members 36' and 38' by any well-known metal-working procedure such that an inexpensive and reliable connecting member is provided to hold the wall sections 14 and securely together.

The frame assembly 10 also includes hanger members, generally indicated at 46, for supporting the frame assembly 10. In other words, the hanger members 46 are provided to receive a length of picture wire for supporting the picture frame assembly 10 on a wall or other vertical, support surface. Each hanger member 46 includes a first portion 48 slidably disposed within the second channel of the wall sections 14 and a second portion 50 extending substantially perpendicularly from the first portion 48. The second portion 50 includes eyelet means comprising an aperture 52 for securing a flexible cable such as a length of picture wire thereto. The hanger members 46 are adapted to be disposed in the side wall sections 14 of the picture frame assembly 10 such that the attached wire will extend I transversely of the frame 10 in the normal fashion. Ad-

ditionally, positioning means comprising arectangular strip 54 made of a stiff material is also disposed in the second channel 20 of the side wall sections 14 to space the hanger members 46 from the top of the picture frame assembly 10.

An alternate embodiment of the hanger member is generally indicated at 46. The hanger member 46' includes a generally rectangular base portion 56, a flange portion 58 extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion 56, and a tab portion 60 having an aperture 62 therein extending angularly outwardly from the flange portion 58. The hanger member 46' is adapted to be inserted in either the first channel 18 or the second channel 20 of the side wall sections 14, depending upon the size of the base portion 56 selected. As shown in FIG. 10, the base portion 56 of the hanger member 46 is smaller than the first channel 18, such that it may be slipped endwise into the channel. The base portion 56, however, has a diagonal dimension greater than the width of thechannel 18, such that when the base portion 56 is twisted or cocked in the channel, such as when the tab 60 is pulled upwardly,

the base portion 56 and, therefore, the hanger member 46' is wedged into place. This arrangement is best shown in FIG. 10. To remove the hanger member 46' the base portion 56 is turned until it is square with the sides of the channel, in which position it may be removed past the flanges 22.

The frame assembly 10 also includes spring means comprising a spring generally indicated at 64 for holding the planar members 26, 28, and 30 within the frame assembly 10. The spring 64 is made of a resilient material, such as metal, and includes an elongated arcuate portion 66. Extension means which include first and second ear portions, 68 and respectively, are adapted to engage the inwardly extending flange 22 of the first channel 18. The first ear portion 68 is longer than the second ear portion 70 and is adapted to extend into the first channel 18 such that the flange 22 extends into the slot 72 between the ear portions 68 and 70 to hold the spring 64 firmly in place. The arcuate portion 66 engages and resiliently holds the planar members 26, 28, and 30 in abutting engagement around their periphery with the flange 24 to hold the planar members securely in place. The ears 68 include an upwardly turned end 68a for defining an end surface which is adapted to engage the lateral wall supporting the flange 22.

The arcuate portion 66 of the spring 64 includes a pair of holes 67 adjacent the ends thereof for receiving a suitable hanger wire for hanging the frame on a support wall. The holes 67 provide an alternate method for hanging the frame which may be employed in lieu of the hanger members 46 or 46' described above. Two holes 67 are provided in each spring so that the spring may be used on either the right or left side of the frame. In other words, since the spring 64 must be turned around end for end when changed from one side to the other, two holes 67 are provided so that when used on either side of the frame, a hole 67 is disposed adjacent the top of the spring. This construction permits the use of identically formed springs on either side of the frame and is, therefore, economically advantageous. The spring 64 also includes a protrusion, or barb 69, which extends outwardly from the arcuate portion 66 near the apex thereof. The barb 69 is adapted to dig into the backing member 30 when the spring 64 is set into place to prevent slip or movement of the spring 64 in either the lateral or vertical direction. In this way, the spring 64 is held securely in place and is prevented from slipping out of engagement with the elements held in the frame, thereby ensuring that the elements will remain therein.

It is noted that any number of spring members 64 may be used, depending upon the size of the frame assembly 10 to hold the planar members 26, 28, and 30 within the frame. It is also noted that the spring members maybe easily removed, in order to remove the planar members 26, 28, and 30, by pressing down on the arcuate portion 66 near the ear portions 68 and 70 and moving the ear portion 68 out of alignment with the first channel 18. The springs 64 are replaced by reversing the procedure. Furthermore, the spring members 64 may be inserted in either of the two channels 18 or 20 depending upon the thickness of the planar members disposed in the frame. The spring members 64 may also be used in similar frame assemblies which have only a single channel.

When sold in kit form, the above described members are sold in a disassembled condition. To assemble the picture frame 10, an end wall section is secured to two side wall sections 14 by means of two connecting members 34 or 34'. A rectangular strip 54 and a hanger member 46 are disposed in the second channel of each side wall section 14 after the planar members 26, 28, and 30 have been secured in place by the springs 64. The other end wall section 15 is secured to the side wall sections 14 by means of two connecting members 34 or 34'. If it is desired, the second embodiment of the hanger members 46' may be used in place of the first embodiment of the hanger members 46, or the holes 67 in the springs 64 may be employed to hang the frame.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. lt is, therefore, to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described, yet remain within the scope of the depending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A frame assembly for mounting a planar member comprising: a peripheral wall including a plurality of interconnected wall sections, each of said wall sections having at least one longitudinal channel, and connecting members for interconnecting said wall sections adapted for location within said channels; said connecting members including a pair of angularly related leg members having a generally planar surface, and integral protrusion means protruding from said planar surfaces for frictionally engaging the sides of said channels, said protrusion means including pointed tab members extending out of said planar surface and pointing toward the juncture between said leg members for biting engagement with the sides of said channels and depressed areas extending out of said planar surface of said leg members in a direction opposite to at least one of said tab members, said depressed areas and said tab members simultaneously urging one another into anchoring engagement with the sides of said channels.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including spring means for holding the planar member within said assembly, said spring means including an elongated, resilient arcuate portion and extension means disposed at each end thereof, a portion of which extends into one of said channels whereby said arcuate portion is adapted to engage the planar member.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said extension means includes first and second ear portions, said first ear portion being longer than said second ear portion and adapted to extend into said first channel.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said wall sections include an inwardly extending flange for coacting with said spring means for holding the planar member within said assembly.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including four wall sections wherein said wall sections define a rectangular frame assembly.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tab members are generally triangular and extend out of said planar surface of said leg members along the lateral edges thereof.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of hangar members for supporting said frame assembly posed in said channels. 

1. A frame assembly for mounting a planar member comprising: a peripheral wall including a plurality of interconnected wall sections, each of said wall sections having at least one longitudinal channel, and connecting members for interconnecting said wall sections adapted for location within said channels; said connecting members including a pair of angularly related leg members having a generally planar surface, and integral protrusion means protruding from said planar surfaces for frictionally engaging the sides of said channels, said protrusion means including pointed tab members extending out of said planar surface and pointing toward the juncture between said leg members for biting engagement with the sides of said channels and depressed areas extending out of said planar surface of said leg members in a direction opposite to at least one of said tab members, said depressed areas and said tab members simultaneously urging one another into anchoring engagement with the sides of said channels.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including spring means for holding the planar member within said assembly, said spring means including an elongated, resilient arcuate portion and extension means disposed at each end thereof, a portion of which extends into one of said channels whereby said arcuate portion is adapted to engage the planar member.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said extension means includes first and second ear portions, said first ear portion being longer than said second ear portion and adapted to extend into said first channel.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said wall sections include an inwardly extending flange for coacting with said spring means for holding the planar member within said assembly.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including four wall sections wherein said wall sections define a rectangular frame assembly.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tab members are generally triangular and extend out of said planar surface of said leg members along the lateral edges thereof.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of hangar members for supporting said frame assembly said hangar members being slidably disposed in the channels of oppositely located wall sections, and positioning means for positioning said hangar members.
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said hangar members include a first portion slidably disposed within a channel and a second portion extending substantially perpendicularly from said first portion, said second portion including eyelet means for securing a flexible cable thereto.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said positioning means comprises a strip of stiff material disposed in said channels. 